SALISBURY Stingrays has set itself a goal of raising £10,000 and will be taking on a Zoomathon workout challenge today (Sunday).

The club's open meet swimming competition had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, members and coaches are planning to complete an eight-hour team workout challenge, the length of time the swim gala would have lasted, which will take place virtually over Zoom.

The money raised will help the club re-start its teaching and training programme when the swimming pools reopen.

Club chairman Tom Beddoes said: “Like so many sport clubs, the lockdown has been a very challenging time for us. We are raising money to make sure our swimmers have a healthy, thriving club to come back to, once this is all over."

The Salisbury Stingrays Zoomathon 2020 Team Workout Challenge will involve eight teams completing one-hour workout sessions as a relay.

More than 60 members will be taking part including swimmers, parents, officials and coaches.

A GoFundMe page set up by the club with a fundraising target of £10,000.

Head coach Chris White has been leading the lockdown fitness regime for the club’s competitive swimmers.

Despite not being able to use the pool, the squad have been doing regular workouts at home, including live online sessions several times a week.

Chris said: “We’re determined to keep our swimmers mentally and physically fit so that when they finally return to the pool, they are in the best shape possible”.

And junior performance squad member James Jobbings added: “It’s been great having regular fitness sessions as it’s such a nice break from home-school. And it means I get to see all my team-mates as well”

The online workout challenge will start at 9am and finish at 5pm.

So far more than £2,000 has been raised. To donate click here.